Lucian

The morning sun shined through the wide glass windows of the café, spilling light over the pale wood and glinting off the silver cutlery. The scent of espresso and warm croissants wrapped around me like a memory I didn’t know I missed. Across from me, Ava sat curled into the corner of the booth, legs folded under her, already halfway through her second chocolate chip muffin.

“You’re not gonna eat that?” she asked, nodding to my untouched croissant.

I smiled. “I was just enjoying the view.”

She narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. “That’s code for ‘I’m nervous.’”

I shrugged, not denying it. “Maybe.”

She popped the last bite...